Alvin Jackson's Ireland 1798-1998 reappraises apparently rigid political divides and apparently decisive turning-points. The varieties of Irish political experience, and their complex interrelationship, are fully explored: particular attention is paid to the (often highly productive) tension between nationalism and Unionism. The work begins and ends with the close of a century, and spans a discrete period in Irish history. Striking comparisons are drawn between the crises of the late eighteenth century and the very rapid change experienced in the late twentieth century.Jackson's approach in Ireland 1798-1998 is throughout analytical, sceptical and humane. The book offers students and the general reader a fresh interpretation of modern Irish political history and provides perceptive insights into some familiar issues and personalities of the period. Drawing on original research and the latest secondary literature, the book is a stylish, stimulating and accessible survey of 200 years of Irish history.
